Sargent said authorities made the gruesome discovery at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday after a person flagged down a deputy to report three mixed-breed dogs wandering loose on Candler Highway near its intersection with Roy Parks Road.

The deputy called Hall County Animal Control officers, who went to Adams’ home and, after failing to get an answer at the door, found the dog pen in the back.

"Inside the pen there were three dog carcasses, along with some other dogs," Sargent said. "The surviving dogs appeared to have been feeding off the carcasses."

Sargent said the dogs appeared "skinny, starved and dehydrated," and had no food and a small amount of dirty rainwater inside the pen.

In a separate cage on the side of the house, officials found two malnourished rabbits that were similarly neglected, Sargent said.

The surviving animals were taken into possession by Hall County Animal Control officers.

"They just reverted to their animal instincts; they hadn’t been fed and taken care of," Sargent said. "It’s very sad. We hate to see animals in conditions like that."

Adams was arrested shortly after the dogs were found. She remains in the Hall County jail on $12,000 bond.